Local footy: EDFL presidents, coaches give verdict on salary cap cuts
An experienced Essendon District Football League coach who has led clubs in several competitions has had his say on the savage cuts to salary caps statewide, declaring the move would deliver a long list of benefits.
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East Sunbury coach Glenn Hopkins has thrown his support behind the significant cuts to salary caps statewide and says the move will encourage clubs to develop homegrown talent.
The Essendon District Football League has slashed its player payments limit by 50 per cent across its three senior grades for 2021, with Premier Division sides having $100,000 to spend, Division 1 clubs $85,000 and Division 2 teams $70,000.
Experienced mentor Hopkins has held the top job in several leagues during his stints at Heathcote, Tullamarine, East Malvern, Canterbury, Diggers Rest, Woodend-Hesket and Melton Centrals.
He said the reductions amid the coronavirus crisis would prove “a great thing for footy in the long run” and help even the playing field.
“It’s fantastic. The spending was ridiculous, even in our comp (Division 2),” Hopkins said.
“I think this is really going to level out how clubs are going to be able to survive.
“It’s impossible for half a dozen volunteers to raise the money they were having to raise.
“With salary caps in a more realistic area, even for A grade clubs, clubs are going to be able to function without the worry of where the next dollar is coming from or asking if they are going to survive.
“The pandemic makes it hard for everyone to raise money this year, but with a lower amount they have to raise to get players, it’s so much better for footy clubs and so much more relates to community footy and bringing your own players through.”
Tullamarine president Peter Labbad said Victoria’s second wave of COVID-19 had only exacerbated the sponsorship challenges for clubs.
He said he was in favour of a staggered approach to the caps and recommended a figures of $65,000 in 2021, $75,000 in 2022 and $85,000 in 2023 to the EDFL to allow time for the recovery process.
But he said he was satisfied with the cuts, adding they would assist the Demons moving forward.
Labbad said Tullamarine spent $100,000 on players as it advanced to the preliminary final last year – $70,000 below the limit.
He said it was not necessary for clubs to jeopardise their futures by paying the full cap.
“It would be nice if we could not go over $100,000 anymore,” Labbad said.
“I think we’ve got to cap it for a good five or six years and let things recover.
“Local footy’s going to crash and there’s only going to be six or eight clubs left (in the EDFL) if we keep going up again.
“The recession is going to hit and all that impacts local football clubs because we rely on sponsors and businesses to help out.”
Westmeadows president Grant Smith said player payments in suburban football were “just getting out of hand”.
“Regardless of whether COVID was the cause, I think the league had to do something,” Smith said.
“Maybe they cut it a bit too hard. My suggestion to (EDFL boss) Ian (Kyte) was a little bit higher than what they’ve put it at, but not by much.
“But obviously the other clubs felt they needed to bring it down.”
Hopkins said promoted clubs should also find it easier to compete at the next level.
He is also hopeful the cuts will promote the importance of player loyalty.
“You go from B grade to A grade, and you have to spend another $50,000 just to survive. That’s not as big a deal now,” Hopkins said.
“It means players won’t just be able to go where they like because someone’s got loads of money for them. Clubs just won’t have that money.
“Hopefully it brings a bit more loyalty and players stay at clubs a bit longer because they won’t go chasing the dollar that’s not there anymore.”
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